The Los Angeles Lakers have finally got their big man. Or at least one with promise. Per NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers are sending Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams.
The deal also consists of a pick swap in the 2030 NBA Draft, Charania noted.
Kleber and Morris were obtained in the stunning trade with the Dallas Mavericks over the weekend, when the Lakers landed Luka Doncic. They sent out Anthony Davis as part of that trade, leaving a gaping hole near the rim, particularly in the area of protecting the paint.
Williams has been on the rise, when healthy, and at 7-foot-2, should offer the type of inside presence LA needs without Davis.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are sending out another LeBron James favorite in Knecht, the rookie first-round pick. But in order to get closer to a title, at least in theory, you have to give up something good.
Knecht is really the centerpiece of this deal for the Hornets, who continue to rebuild around talented youth. But as Williams told Spencer Davies of RG.org earlier this season, it’s not always easy finding your way to wins in Charlotte.
“It’s been tough, for sure,” Williams said. “There’s definitely a lot of flashes of good things we’re doing. I think the next step for us is doing that for a longer period of time and long enough to get a win.”
Hoops Wire will continue to add details on this trade and any others that occur ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. EST deadline.
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